Colombia beat Greece 3-0 in Group C opener

With their injured star Falcao watching from the stands, the Colombians went into the lead in just five minutes, as Pablo Armero latched onto a cross from Juan Cuadrado to score from inside the box with the aid of a deflection.

It was a nightmare start for the Greeks, but despite the early set-back they came more into the game and were dominant for long spells.

It was Colombia, though, who found the net again in 58 minutes, Teofilo Gutierrez slotting home from close distance after a James Rodriguez ball into the box, to make it 2-0.

And Rodriguez made it 3-0 in the third minute of time added on, shooting home from 18 metres to rub salt into Greek wounds.

The closest Greece came in the match was a close-range header from Theofanis Gekas, which struck the underside of the Colombian bar in 62 minutes, when he should have scored.

They had also come close in the first half with a shot from the lively Panagiotis Kone which Colombia keeper David Ospina did well to palm for a corner.

Colombia had got off to a dream start in bright sunshine, going ahead through Armero with just five minutes on the clock.

But the goal seemed to spark the Greeks into action, and they fought back strongly.

The men in blue enjoyed perhaps the lion's share of possession, but again and again their slick moves ran up against the tough-tackling Colombian defence.

The Colombians were enjoyed some success on the break, with goal scorer Armero especially dangerous in tormenting the Greek defence.

Georgios Samaras of Greece was largely neutralized by the Colombian defence, as the Greeks continued to enjoy possession with little end-product.

But the pressure was beginning to tell, with Colombia's Carlos Sanchez yellow-carded on 25 minutes for bringing down a surging Samaras in full flight.

A Manolas header from Greece came close on 27 minutes, and with half an hour gone, Greece's Kone blazed over from distance.

Then it was Samaras again, managing only a weak shot on goal from a good position.

At the other end, Cuadrado shot wild and wide from 25 metres. Then Colombia's James Rodriguez volleyed over from inside the Greek box.

The Colombians had a steady spell of pressure as the second half progressed, and it was no real surprise when Gutierrez put them further ahead just before the hour mark.

Colombia tightened up the game to protect their lead, as the battling Greeks pressed forward.

But Colombia were clearly not finished and Rodriguez - later named Man of the Match - burst upfield to send in a fierce shot well saved by the Greek keeper.

At the other end, as the clock ticked down and amid increasing noise from the huge yellow-shirted Colombian contingent in the 51,000 crowd, Samaras fired in a shot for Greece which whizzed past the Colombian goalie's right-hand post.

Then, just seconds from the end, came Colombia's third goal when Rodriguez guided in a shot from near the penalty spot.

It was a bitter blow for the Greeks, with a three-goal win perhaps flattering the Colombians.